Indoor loadable outdoor clothes dryer

ABSTRACT

A dryer for articles such as clothes including brackets which are rigidly mounted on the inner or outer sides of an openable window of a dwelling. Associated with the brackets is an article hanging frame that can be swung between a vertical storage position parallel to a wall of the dwelling, either inside or outside of the window, and a horizontal operative position. In the operative position the frame can be slid horizontally between a location substantially within the dwelling and a location substantially outside the dwelling. When the frame is in operative position inside the dwelling wet articles to be aired easily can be loaded onto the same after which the frame is slid through the window to its external location where the articles can be dried or aired in fresh air and sun and with the aid of any wind that may be blowing, thereby facilitating and improving drying and airing, and preventing an increase of humidity and providing more available space within the dwelling. Thereafter the frame is slid back into the dwelling through the window for unloading the dried or aired articles. When the frame is in its vertical storage position it is inconspicuous and takes up very little living space.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,797,670

Lavemour Mar. 19, 1974 [54] INDOOR LOADABLE OUTDOOR CLOTHES [571ABSTRACT DRYER A dryer for articles such as clothes including brackets[76] Inventor; Octavio Lavemour, 465 W which are rigidly mounted on theinner or outer sides Broadway, New York, NY. 10012 of an openable windowof a dwelling. Associated with I the brackets is an article hangingframe that can be [22] Flled: Sept 1972 swung between a vertical storageposition parallel to a [3]] Appl 293341 wall of the dwelling. eitherinside or outside of the window. and a horizontal operative position. Inthe operative position the frame can be slid horizontally 52 ms. or211/94, 211/99. 34/239 between a location Substantially within m6dwelling 51 1111.0. ..F26b 25/00 and a location substantially outsidethe dwelling 58 Field 61 Search 34/239, 240,42;

When the frame is in o erative osition inside the 211/11901 11902 1190411905 dwelling wet articles to b aired essily can be loaded .1 1906*11912 onto the same after which the frame is slid through the 11917 100window to its external location where the articles can be dried or airedin fresh air and sun and with the aid [56] References C'ted of any windthat may be blowing, thereby facilitating UNITED TAT PATENTS andimproving drying and airing, and preventing an 1.288.996 12/1918 Riordan.5. 211/94 increase of humidity and providing more available 2.032.8913/1936 Schultze..... 211/94 space within the dwelling. Thereafter theframe is slid 1.582.762 4/1926 K k 6 211/99 back into the dwellingthrough the window for unloadl.836.008 12/1931 Anzalonem 211/94 ing thedried or aired articles. When the frame is in its 2.l79.2l6 ll/l939Kalks 211/99 911.651 2/l909 Erickson....

' 211/94 vertical storage position it is inconspicuous and takes 78.6616/1868 Griffith .1: 211/94 up very living Space FORElGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 199.325 6/1908 Germany 211/94 s h 12 Claims, 11 DrawingFigures Primary E.raminer-William F, ODea ,AssisranrExaminer-PauLDevinsky g Attorney, Agent, or Firml(irschstein,Kirschstein, Ottinger & Frank Pmmmmmn I 3.791670 sum 2 or 3 Pmmlzum 1 9m4 3.797570 SHEU 3 (If 3 INDOOR LOADABLE oUTDooR CLOTHES DRYERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A clothes dryerwherein the drying frame can be swung between an erect storage positionagainst a wall of a dwelling and a horizontal operative position inwhich'it can be slid back and forth through a window between theinterior and exterior of the dwelling.

2. Description of the Prior Art Equipment for the drying of clothes hasexperienced a long and varied history. Probably the first equipmentemployed was a clothes line that was strung at a persons height betweenvertical poles, at a time when the principal dwellings were singlefamily homes. As multiple apartment dwellings came into vogue in urbanareas, the occupants of these dwellings could not use clothes linepolesin the limited yard space available so they resorted to clothes'linesstrung between building walls or between apartments and tall poles in ayard, the lines usually travelling about pulleys to facilitate loadingand unloading of clothes at an apartment window. Both foregoingarrangements caused an unsightly clutter.

More compact, neater arrangements for drying clothes have becomeavailable. For example, in private homes an apparatus was used thatconsisted of a single pole, usually set up rather close to the house,that, like an umbrella, was provided with foldable radial arms near itstop between which several runs of clothes line were strung. Forapartments, clothes hangers were sold which constituted either anon-collapsible frame with clothes lines strung thereon or a foldableframe without a clothes line. The non-collapsible frame was suspended bypulleys and cords from a ceiling, frequently over a bathtub, and couldbe raised or lowered, being loaded when low and raised for drying. Thefoldable frame usually was placed in a bathroom and included a framethat could be raised or lowered and on which radial arms were mounted.The arms could be swung between vertical and horizontal'positions in thelatter of which-they could be spread apart. The frame was lowered andthe arms raised for storage and, for drying, the arms were swung tohorizontal position and loaded and then the frame was raised so thatpeople could walk under the wet clothes.

In another collapsible form of interior dryer a pair of pantographsconnected by bars was used. This could be set up anywhere in a dwellingand, when collapsed, could be stored in any convenient place, e.g. acloset or basement. It opened vertically from a base to receive wetclothing for drying.

The pieces of foregoing equipment were purely mechanical and, except forthe ground level lines and the umbrella-type pole were specificallydesigned for apartment dwellers.

More recently, drum type dryers have been made in which drying wasperformed by electrical or gas heaters. These found favor in privatehomes, in some of the better apartment houses and in laundries whereindividual members of the public do their own washing. However, theywere not adapted to be used in many apartment houses, particularly inthe older apartment houses where the electric and gas lines did not havethe capacity to operate the dryers; nor was their use favored in manyapartment houses, where they were placed in the basement or in otherlocations remote from a users apartment and were shunned due to the fearof walking through corridors.

It also has been proposed in US. Pat. No. 581,93l to provide a clothesdryer in which a drying frame is translatable in a horizontal plane fromunder a porch or veranda roof to outside of the walls of a building.However, this latter patent can only be used in a private dwelling and,there, only in association with a windowless opening.

As will be apparent, with all the above indoor dryers, except for gasand electric dryers which were externally vented, there were certainundesirable side effects. For example, drying of clothes in a roomsubstantially increased the humidity, this being unpleasant to theoccupants, particularly in warm weather, and when the increase wassufficiently high inducing mildew. Moreover, drying in an enclosed spacewas a somewhat lengthy procedure, due to the increase in humidity and tothe lack of movement of the ambient air. In addition, indoor drying ofall kinds, as distinguished from outdoor drying, lost the beneficialeffects of the sun among which are germicidal action and, for whiteclothes, bleaching. Ultra-violet lamps have been used in gas andelectric dryers, but they are not as beneficial as the sun itself.

Another disadvantage of indoor clothes dryers is that they consumed adisproportionately large amount of living space for the function theyserved. Particularly when extended, if they were of the expansible type,they occupied a considerable percentage of living space that in moderndwellings, where space is expensive, is highly undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PURPOSES OF THE INVENTION It is the principalobject of the present invention to provide a clothes dryer which isspecially designed for use in multiple apartment dwellings, although italso can be used to advantage in private houses, and which dryerovercomes all of the foregoing drawbacks.

' It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which constitutes relatively few and simple parts,is inexpensive to make, can be merchandised at a low price, is highlyefficient in operation, can be manipulated without danger and withoutinstructions by inexperienced and clumsy people, and lends itself tomass production.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which can be loaded with articles such as clothesfrom inside a room and which can, despite its interior loading site, bemanipulated to a site in which it is outside a dwelling so that theclothes will be exposed to the wind and the sun and will not tend tobuild-up vapor within the room.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which can, with extreme case and rapidity, be movedbetween an internal loading and unloading location and an externaldrying location.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which can be mounted either inside or outside a roomand the mounting of which can be accomplished within but a few minutesand by people not having any particular skills, and without theassistance of special tools.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which is so designed that it is capable of havinghung therefrom a large quantity of wash in a rather small space so that,although adapted to be mounted in standard window openings, none ofwhich is particularly wide, it can with ease have hung therefrom a fullload of wash from a conventional washing machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which, despite the fact that it is designed to bemounted in a standard, not overly large, window opening of a multipleapartment dwelling, can have hung therefrom large items such as sheetsand blankets It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer ofthe character described which is capable of being mounted in any windowopening regardless of the type of window therein as, for example, whichis capable of being mounted in a window opening having windows, casementor double-hung sash type.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which, when mounted, is solidly installed and,therefore, can be safely secured at any floor of an apartment housewithout fear of an untoward accident.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which is easy to dismount from a window opening sothat if its normal storage position is outside of a building wall it canbe brought inside to a safe place and kept there while the dwellers areaway, as, for example, on a vacation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which is well suited for use in any one of the fourseasons, even during the winter when outdoor conditions are not suitablefor drying and the dryer should function solely as an indoor dryer.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which, when stored, lies flat against a wall of abuilding, being disposed either inside or outside the building.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which, when installed inside a building, lies, whenflat, so close to the interior surface of the building wall that iteasily can be concealed by an overlying window ornament such as a drape.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which, when mounted on the exterior surface of awall of a building, lies so close to the wall in storage position thatit does not constitute a fire hazard.

It is another object of the invention to provide a dryer of thecharacter described which, when in storage position, is so inconspicuousthat it does not detract from the appearance of a room, if inside, or ofa dwelling, if outside.

All in all, it is an object of the invention to provide a clothes dryerof the character described which is characterized by its ability to beloaded and unloaded from inside a building and yet to have clothesthereon directly exposed to the outside ambient air at a locationoutside the building, and, moreover, which, when not in use, lies flatagainst a wall of the building.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The clothes dryer of the presentinvention includes two brackets, each designed to be rigidly attached tothe sides of a window opening, the mounting either being on the insideor the outside of the window depending upon the type of sash employed.The mounting can be changed from outside a window for spring, summer orfall to inside a window for winter. With a double-hung window thebrackets can be secured at the inside or the outside. However, with acasement window the brackets must be secured to the inside of the windowopeing. The brackets are transversely registered across the width of thewindow opening and, aside from the arrangement for fastening to thesides of the window opening, essentially constitute a pair of parallelvertical tracks. A different shoe is pivoted to a high point on eachtrack, the pivoting being about coincidental horizontal axes. A dryingframe slides in the shoes and, since the drying frame is a rectangle,the shoes are maintained in identical angular orientations. When theshoes are horizontal the drying frame will be horizontal and can be slidon the shoes from a location inside a dwelling to a location outside thedwelling, regardless of whether the brackets are inside or outside thewindow. When the shoes are swung to vertical positions the shoes and thedrying frame lie against the wall of the dwelling at which the bracketsare mounted. A suitable mechanism is included to facilitate swinging ofthe shoes and frame between horizontal and vertical positions. Theswinging mechanism disclosed constitutes a different rider that slidesvertically on each track. Each rider is connected to a portion of theassociated shoe at a point remote from the pivotal axis by a linkpivotally connected at one end to the shoe and at the other end to therider. When the riders are low on the tracks they lower the distal endsof the shoes to a horizontal operative position, and when the riders areraised they elevate the distal ends of the shoes to a vertical storageposition. Means is included to lock the riders in their low position andto lock the shoes in their raised position. Means also is included toprevent the frame from sliding off the shoes in an outward direction sothat the frame cannot ride off the shoes and fall to the ground.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and series of stepswhich will be exemplified in the device hereinafter described and ofwhich the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in whichare shown various possible embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the outside of a windowopening with the dryer embodying the present invention secured to thesides thereof and disposed in vertical position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the window opening and dryerillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the dryer inoperative position and with the dryer frame inside the building ready tobe loaded:

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the dryer framedisposed externally of the building and with clothes hung thereon;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentaryend view of the dryer in the position shown inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the dryer mounted insidethe building;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and are enlarged cross-sectional views showing variousdetails of the dryer, the same being taken substantially along the lines7-7, 8-8, 99 and ltll0, respectively, of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 11 is another enlarged cross-sectional view showing a differentdetail of the dryer, the same being taken substantially along the linell1 -ll of FIG. 2.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to thedrawings and, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-5 and 7-11, the reference numeral denotes a wall of a building having a window opening 22 therein. Awindow casing 24 is securely mounted in the window opening. The casingillustrated is-for a double-hung window 26 including an upper sash 28and a lower sash 30. The sashes slide in individual channels 32, 34,respectively, of the casing. Connecting the casing channels are a topheader 36 and a sill 38, the latter sloping outwardly and downwardly asis conventional to facilitate drainage of rain and melting snow.

The reference numeral 40 denotes a clothes dryer embodying the presentinvention. Said clothes dryer is designed to be mounted on the windowopening either at the outside of the double-hung window 26, as shown inFIGS. l-5 and 7-11, or on the inside of the window as illustrated inFIG. 6. The dryer construction is the same for both so that a purchasercan place the dryer as desired. I I

The window casing sometimes includes side rails on the outside of thewall of a building within the window opening and similar side rails onthe inside of a wall of a building in said opening. Other installations,such as the ones shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 do not include side rails, inwhich case the corresponding part 42, 44 of the window opening isexposed, i.e. the part which otherwise would be covered by the siderail, inasmuch as the window casing normally is recessed from the planeof the exterior surface of the building. It is inthis inset space,either on the side rails, if they are present, or on the exposedportions of the sides of the window opening, if side rails are absent,that the clothes dryer 40 is mounted. v

For the purpose of mounting, the dryer includes two brackets 46, onebracket at one side of the dryer and the other at the opposite side. Asillustrated, each bracket is made of a single piece of metal and isformed at its opposite ends with angle-shaped terminations 48 each ofwhich includes a first arm 50 that lies flat against a wall of abuilding, either the external or the internal wall, the external wallbeing the one illustrated in FIG. 1 and the internal wall being the oneillustrated inFlG. 7, and a second arm 52 which lies against either theside rail, if one is present, or against a side surface of the windowopening as shown in FIGS. 1-6 and 81l. Each arm 50, 52 is formed with athrough opening 54. Said opening is adapted to pass the threaded end 56of a lag/machine screw 58. The lag end of the screw is anchored in thematerial of the building wall or in a lag sleeve inserted into apreviously drilled hole in the building wall so that the screw is firmlyembedded and there is no chance of it breaking loose so long as the wallof the building is structurally sound. The machine end of the screwextends through the opening 54 to receive a wing nut 60. Thus, at eachof the two terminations 48 of both brackets 46 two screws 58 and nuts6t) are provided to rigidly secrue the associated bracket. It will beappreciated that with this arrangement it is quite easy for an unskilledmember of the public to set in the lag screws and thereafter to rigidlyattach the brackets, the only tool required being a drill, e.g. a stardrill if the wall is brick, or a wrench if the wall is wood, in order toanchor the screws and, thereafter, a persons fingers sufficing to attachand tighten the wing nuts. The screws 58 can be emplaced on both theinside and outside of the window to permit the brackets and, therefore,the dryer to be rigidly attached to the sides of the window eitherinside or outside the window; it is a simple matter, since wing nuts areused, to shift the brackets and dryer from either location to the other.Then the bracket and dryer may be placed outside the window in thespring, summer and fall and inside the window in the winter.

Between the terminations 48 each bracket is shaped to provide a track 62that is straight and of uniform configuration. The tracks are verticaland parallel to the sides of the window opening 22. The brackets are somounted that the tracks are transversely registered with each otheracross the window opening. Although it is within the scope of thepresent invention to mount the brackets high in a window opening, thepreferred mounting is such that the upper terminations are slightlybelow the lower frame member 64 of the upper sash 28 when the same is inits uppermost position (see FIG. 3). As later will be apparent thispermits the dryer frame when in operative position to slide horizontallythrough the window opening at a height (below the raised upper sash)which is convenient for manipulation and convenient for loading articleson and unloading articles from the dryer frame.

A different shoe 66 is pivotally secured to each track 62 so as topermit swinging of the shoe with respect to the track about a fixedhorizontal axis, the horizontal axes of pivotal movement of the twoshoes being coincident.-Although this can be accomplished with a rivet,

in the preferred form of the invention the pivotal attachment iseffected in such a fashion that the shoe can be connected to the trackby a householder without the use of special tools. This permits assemblyin the field and allows the dryer to be shipped in knocked-downcondition. Indeed, as the description proceeds, it will be appreciatedthat the various parts have been so constructed that, to a large degree,thesundry component elements may be assembled into a completed dryer onthe householders premises by the householder himself, thereby enablingthe dryer to be packaged for sale in compact form and also reducing thecost of the dryer by avoiding factory assembly. To the foregoing end,the pivotal means connecting each shoe to its associated trackconstitutes a flat-headed machine screw 68 (see FIG. 9) which has itshead received in a countersunk opening 70 in the bracket at a height afew inches below the lower edge of the lower sash when the same is fullyraised. The shank of the screw extends through a passageway '72 in theshoe and through an opening in the track to project beyond the trackwhere it receives a wing nut 74. The shoe is so configured that it canact to captively slidably receive an elongated rectilinear element and,to this end, said shoe is fashioned with an end-to-end trough 76 (seeFIGS. 7, 8 and 9) having its base near the bracket and having an openmouth 78 remote from the bracket. The lips of the trough adjacent themouth partially overhang the maximum width of the trough so as toprevent the slidable rectilinear element just mentioned from leaving thetrough through the mouth 78. The wing nut 74 is tightened just enough tohold the screw 68 in position. It is not tightened enough to interferewith the swinging motion of the shoe relative to the track. Inasmuch asthe rectilinear element, not yet described, desirably is slidable withease in the shoe 66, the surface of the trough 76 which engages therectilinear element, in this instance the entire surface of the trough,has a low coefficient of dynamic and static friction. This can beaccomplished by making the shoe of metal and providing a slipperycoating on the surface of the trough,'e.g. a coating of Teflon or Kel-X(fluorocarbon resins). A simpler way of attaining the same purpose is tomake the entire shoe of a slippery synthetic resin, e.g. a syntheticplastic such as polyethylene, the surface of which has a low coefficientof dynamic and static friction.

The shoes 66 are arranged to be swingable between a horizontal position(see FIGS. 3 and 4) in which the longitudinal axes of their troughs areperpendicular to the lengths of the tracks 62 and in which position thedryer is operative, as later will be appreciated, and'a verticalposition (see FIGS. 1 and 2) in which the longitudinal axes of theirtroughs are parallel to the lengths of the tracks 62 and in whichposition the dryer is stored against the building wall 20, as later willbe described in fuller detail.

The structure providing axes of swinging movement has been pointed outhereinabove, the same constituting the screws 68. However, it isdesirable to provide means for facilitating swinging movement of theshoes and for bracing the shoes in their horizontal operative position.Such bracing and movement facilitating means includes for each shoe andtrack a rider 80. The rider constitutes a body having a through opening82 (see FIG. 10) through which the track 62 extends whereby the rider isslidable along the length of the track from the bottom termination 48upwardly. Desirably, the riders move along the track easily and, forthis purpose, the walls defining the openings 82 have a low coefficientof dynamic and static friction, said riders, as in the case of theshoes, being made of a polyethylene.

Each rider has a lug 84 with a vertical slot therein which receives thelower end ofa link 86 the upper end of which is attached to the distalend of the shoe. The attachments of the ends of the link 86 to the lug84 and the shoe 66 are pivotal, the pivots being horizontal, and thepivots of the two links being transversely registered. Although thepivots may be provided in any suitable manner such, for instance, asrivets, they are here shown as being screws and wing nuts similar to thescrews 68 and wing nuts 74 mentioned in connection with the pivotalattachment of the shoes to the brackets. This likewise enables the partsjust described to be shipped in disassembled (knocked-down) conditionfor compact packaging and assembly at the home rather than at thefactory.

It will be apparent that when the riders are in a lower position (seeFIGS. 3 and 4) the links 86 will act as struts to hold and brace theshoes in horizontal operative position and that when the riders arelifted (see FIG. 2) they will raise the distal end of the shoes,swinging the same about the pivot screws 68 until the shoes arevertical. At their lower position (with the shoes horizontal) the lowersurface of each rider butts against an offset 88 (see FIG. 11)connecting the track 62 to the lower termination 48 whereby the weightof the shoes and anything carried by them will be transmitted throughthe struts 86 to the riders 80, then through the offsets 88 to theterminations 48, and, hence, to the sides of the window opening 22, sothat the shoes are sturdily held in horizontal operative position. Thistransmission of forces particulary effective to support the shoes insuch position because it is in this position that the shoes on bothsides of the dryer carry the full weight of the drying frame and of thewet articles hung thereon.

However, full reliance for such transmission of the heavy weightinvolved is not placed solely upon such abutment and, moreover, there isthe possibility that under certain wind conditions an upward force mightbe exerted upon the distal ends of the shoes which would undesirablycause themto raise despite the fact that the dryer is supposed to be inoperative condition. Hence, the dryer, desirably, additionally includesmeans to releasably lock each rider in its lower dryeroperativeposition. Such means includes for each rider a locking pin 90 and athrough opening 92 in the track 62 which opening is in registry with thepin 90 when the rider 80 is in dryer-operative position. The pin isreciprocally translatable horizontally so that it may be slid into andout of the opening 92, the rider being locked when the pin is in theopening. The tip of the pin is rounded to facilitate its entry into theopening 92. Although the pin can be translated by hand for locking andunlocking, in a preferred form of the invention the pin is spring-loadedtoward locking position so that it will automatically lock when therider reaches its lowermost position on the track and the householderwill not be able to forget to effect locking movement of said pin.Accordingly, each pin is provided with a spindle 94 coincident with thelongitudinal axis of the pin, the pin and the spindle being slidable inthe central bore of a stud 96 extending from a face of the rider 80. Ahelical spring 98 is held under compression between the end of the pin90 remote from the track 62 and the blind end of the bore in the stud,thereby urging the pin toward the track and into the opening 92 when thepin and opening are in registry. The rounded tip of the pin facilitatessuch automatic entry. When it is desired to retract the pin from theopening, a head 100 on the spindle 94, which extends through the blindend of the bore in the stud, is pulled out. The head of the studincludes a narrow flat-sided base 102 which is received in a mateablenotch 104 formed at the tip of the stud 96. If it is desired to maintainthe pin 90 in its idle position, the head of the spindle 94 is pulledout and turned 90 to locate the bottom of the base 102 in a positionstraddling the sides of the notch 104. Although not so shown in thedrawings, the stud 96 may be screwed into a tapped aperture in the sideof the rider 80, transferring assembly of the dryer from the factory tothe home.

The shoes, links and riders are so dimensioned that when the riders arein their uppermost positions they will be short of the distal ends ofthe shoes (see FIG. I), so as not to interfere with the same, and intheir lowermost positions (see FIGS. 3 and 4) the shoes will be heldwith their longitudinal axes perpendicular to the lengths of the tracks.

It will be recalled that the brackets 46 are so positioned that theupper termination 48 is below the lower frame member 64 of the uppersash when the same is in its uppermost position. Thereby when the shoesare swung to horizontal position (see FIGS. 3 'and 4) said shoes arebelow the fully raised upper sash and also will be below the bottom ofthe lower sash when the same is fully raised. This arrangement isnecessary to enable the frame, next to be described, to clear the twosashes as it moves between the interior (see FIG. 3) and exterior (seeFIG. 4) of the building wall.

' In order to assist the support of the shoes in their horizontaloperative position, each link includes in its upper end a horizontalstop finger 106 that extends into the path of travel of the associatedshoe as it swings downwardly. The stop finger is so located on the linki that the shoe will be seated thereon when in its horizontal operativeposition (see FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8).

The dryer additionally includes a clothes supporting frame 108 which isof rectangular configuration and, like all of the other major structuralcomponents of the dryer, is shipped disassembled (knocked-down). Saidframe is composed of eight major pieces. These include: two opposedtransversely registered rectilinear elongated members 110, 112, Le. sidepieces, which conveniently are made of steel tubing, two end bars 114,116 which preferably are straight and perpendicular to the members 110,112 and when joined to them form a rectangle, and four corner connectorpieces 118, 120, 122 and 124. The corner pieces are designed the clotheslines thereto, whether they be one or several. Said means may constitutehooks integrally formed from the material of the bar as, for example,tongues partially struck out from said bar material. Once again, tosimplify assembly, said attachment means constitutes J-shaped hooks 130each including a threaded shank 132. The shanks have self-tapping screwsformed thereon so that they can be readily threaded by the householderinto small pre-formed openings in appropriate positions in the end barsand into the plastic rods therein. At least certain openings are inregistry with the plugs 126 (see FIGS. 9 and 11) so that they willbescrewed into the plugs well as through the bars, thereby securing thebars to the plugs. Desirably, the ends of the clothes line are formedwith eyes 134 which are engaged to the hooks 130 with the line under aslight tension before the hooks are fully threaded into the end bars.Thereby, as the hooks are turned to fully engage the shanks with the endbars, the clothes lines will be tautened to ensure that the plugs 126are firmly seated into the ends of the members 110 slidable in thetrough 76.

The relationship between the shoes 66 and the frame 108 is one whichpermits, indeed, even encourages, ease of sliding movement of the framerelative to the shoes, this being particularly desirable when the franeand shoes are horizontally oriented so as to enable the frame to beslidable with minimum exertion between a 2 location locatedsubstantially inside a room (see FIG.

to join the members 110, 112 with the end bars 114,

116 and, for such purpose, each one is composed of two right-angled legsterminating at their tips in plugs 126 of reduced diameter. Thediameters of the plugs are such thatthey are snug fits in the ends ofthe members and bars 110, 112, 114 and 116. Hence, with the connectorsthrust into the ends of these members and bars the desired rectangularframe is formed. The connectors conveniently are made of a syntheticresin, an ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene 'copolymer) beingsuitable and strong enough for this purpose. Inasmuch as the componentsof the frame are assembled in the home, it is not feasible to have theconnectors force-fitted into the members and bars. Hence, the same areso relatively dimensioned that this fit is a slip fit and the connectorsare positively secured to the members and bars as by screws (see FIG.9). The end bars 114, 116 have plastic rods inserted therein to receivethreaded ends of the hooks.

The members 110, 112 are slidable lengthwise in the shoes 66. Hence, theframe, as a whole, is slidable in these shoes, and with the shoes inhorizontal operative position of the dryer the frame can be slid from aposition in which it is mostly within a room (see FIG. 3) to a positionin which it is extended from the room (see FIG. 4) so that it is exposedto the ambient conditions outside the building which usually, when thedryer is used, will be fresh air and the sun.

Inasmuch as the principal purpose of the dryer is to hang wet washtherefrom, said dryer includes suitable means for facilitatingsuspension of fabric items. Most conveniently, this means constitutes aclothes line or several lengths of clothes lines. As illustrated,several short lengths of clothes line 128 are provided. The end bars 104incorporate standard means for attachment of 3) for loadingand unloadingof articles on the clothes line in order to dry or air the same, and alocation outside the window (see FIG. 4) at which the articles will bedried or aired in fresh air.

Nevertheless, this case of horizontal movement of the frame with apossibly heavy load of articles thereon could be dangerous if the framecould move outwardly of the building without any check and fall on aninnocent person in a street or yard. Hence, pursuant to a safety featureof the present invention, means is included to stop outward horizontalmovement of the frame on the shoes beyond a point at which the framedisengages the shoes. Such means constitutes a positive stop and is inthe form of an integral boss 136 (see FIGS. 1 and 3.) on each of thecorner pieces 118, 120, each boss projecting away from the associatedcorner piece in such a direction that its path of movement intersectsthe upper wall of the associated shoe 66. This wall of each shoe isshaped to provide a slot 138 the mouth of which faces toward the roomwhen the frame is horizontal and downwardly when the frame is vertical.Thereby when the frame is pushed outwardly when in horizontal operativeposition the bosses will strike the bases of the slots to check furtheroutward movement of the frame, thus preventing accidental outwarddischarge of the frame from the dryer to the street or yard below.

As an additional precaution, a back-up safety check means is included,the same having multiple functions, one being the back-up checkingfunction, another being retention of the frame in a certain outthrustposition when the shoes are vertical, which is to say, a position withrespect to the shoes that corresponds to the said outthrust position ofthe frame when the shoes are horizontal and still another beingretention of the frame in an unloading position when the shoes arehorizontal. Said means constitutes spring-loaded pins 140 (see FIG. 8)similar to the pin 90, but cooperating with openings 142 in the frame108, actually a member 110, 112, instead of with openings in the track,as did the pin 90. The openings 142 are so positioned that they will befully entered by the pins 140 when the frame is in the fully outthrustposition of FIG. 4 with the shoes horizontal.

The pins 140 also are adapted to cooperate with two other pairs ofopenings in the frame 108. One pair of such openings is provided in themembers 110, 112 in a position to be entered by the pins when the frameis retracted into the room to the position shown in FIG. 3. This latercooperation prevents the frame from being pulled roomwise to an extentsufficient to ride off the shoes. The other pair of such openings isprovided in the members 110, 112 in a position to be entered by the pinswhen the frame is vertical and in the position shown in FIG. 11.

The same reference numeral 140 has been utilized to indicate the handleof the pin as well as the pin itself. The stud in which the pin isslidable, like the stud 96, can be detachably secured to the shoe bythreaded interengagement and the same arrangement, i.e. notch and flatshank, can be used to enable the pin 140 to be disabled or to bespring-biased into any one of the three aforesaid openings in the frame.It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that shortlybefore the bosses 136 strike the bases of the slots 138 the rounded tipsof the pins 140 will start to enter the opening 142 and that by the timethe bosses are seated in the slots the pins will have fully entered theopenings as illustrated in FIG. 8, thus applying an additional safetycheck.

Moreover, if the frame is now swung with the shoes about the pivotscrews 68 to lift the frame to a vertical position, the frame willremain fixed with respect to the shoes, i.e. will not shift during theswinging step, thus preventing an accidental descent of the frame withpossible harm to the user. However, after the frame and shoes have beenswung to vertical position the pins 140 are pulled out of theopenings142 and the frame is permitted to descend under the user's control untilsockets 144 (see FIG. 11) are telescopically received on protuberances146 formed on the studs 96,'thereby locking various parts of the dryertogether by interengaging the frame 108 and riders 80. Thisinterengagement is quite firm and will maintain the frame and shoes inelevated storage position and the riders in low position despite theimposition of stresses that may be imparted such, for instance, as achild pulling on the dryer if the dryer is stored inside a room, or windblowing on the dryer if the dryer is stored on the outside of abuilding. It will be observed that with the frame in the locked positionthe entire weight of the dryer rests on the offsets 88 which, with thebrackets, are rigidly attached to the wall of the building. In additionthe pins 140 in the aforesaid vertical position of FIG. 11 will enterthe aforesaid other of the two other pair of openings to assist inlocking the frame in storage position.

To use the dryer, let it be assumed that it is in a storage position.This is a vertical position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 11 in which thesockets 144 have received the protuberances 146, the pins 140 are in thesecond of the other openings in the frame, the riders are in theiruppermost positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the shoes 66 are intheir vertical position as shown in the same figures.

The dryer illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is on the outside of the buildingso that in stored position the frame is vertical and adjacent the wallof the building outside of the window. In this position close to thebuilding the dryer does not present a projecting fire hazard; the dryeraffords sufficient clearance beneath the bar 116 to allow free egressfrom the building.

To release the dryer, the pins 140 are pulled from the second of theother pair of openings in the frame, the frame is raised until the pins140 are in their outermost locking position. Then the pins are retractedfrom their associated openings 92 and the frame and shoes are swungoutwardly until they are horizontal as shown in FIG. 4. At this timenothing is attached to the clothes lines 128 and the frame is entirelyor largely outside the building. Next, the pins are retracted from theoutermost pair of openings in the frame and the user, pulling on the endbar 116, slides the frame in the shoes until the frame is largely insidethe window and, therefore, in the room as shown in FIG. 3. In thisposition the pins 140 enter the first of the other pair of openings.Thereupon, the user places on the clothes lines whatever is desired tobe hung therefrom such, for instance, as wet wash, articles to be aired,etc., and when this is finished and after the pins 140 are retractedfrom the first pair of the other openings, pushes the frame, still inits horizontal position, to a location outside the window as shown inFIG. 4, the motion-checking means preventing complete disengagement ofthe frame from the shoe. In its location outside the window the articlessuspended from the clothes lines will have the benefit of fresh airdrying and, if the sun is out, this drying not only will be speeded upbut the articles will be subjected to the germicidal effects of the sunsrays. Moreover, if there is any wind blowing the drying will proceedeven faster. The moisture evaporating from wet clothes will notaccumulate inside the room. Finally, when the articles have been exposedto the ambient air for a sufficient length of time as, for example, whenthe wet wash becomes dry, the frame is pulled back into the room to thelocation shown in FIG. 3, the articles are removed and, if desired,fresh articles hung on the clothes line.

As has been indicated previously, it is not necessary for the dryer tobe mounted on the outside of the wall of a building as shown in FIGS.1-5 and 7-11. Alternatively, the dryer can be mounted on the inside ofthe room, this position being illustrated in FIG. 6. None of the partsof the dryer have to be changed for this change in location and thedryer will operate in the manner described above except that, when inits vertical storage location inside the room, the frame will hug theinterior wall so closely that it takes up no noticeable amount of livingspace and can easily be concealed as by drapes.

Where the dryer is mounted in a casement window it is necessary for thebrackets 46 to have the tracks located further away from the side wallsof the window opening in order to clear the windows in their outswungpositions. Moreover, because casement windows normally swing out, it isnot usually practical to mount the dryer of the present invention on theexterior of a building in conjunction with casement windows. Hence, withcasement windows an interior mounting such as illustrated in FIG. 6 isdesirable.

It thus will be seen that there is provided a device which achieves thevarious objects of the invention and which is well adapted to meet theconditions of practical use. i

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in theaccompanying drawings is is to be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention there is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A clothes dryer for use in conjunction with a wall of a buildinghaving a window opening with a window therein which window can be movedbetween open and closed positions, said clothes dryer comprising:

A. an article supporting frame,

B. means rigidlyattached to the window opening to mount said frame onsaid wall at said window opening for shiftable movement between ahorizontal operative position in which the frame is aligned with a spacein the window opening provided when the window is open, and a verticalstorage position against a surface of a wall of a'building, saidmounting means including i i. a pair of brackets securable permanentlyand rigidly to the sides of the window opening,

ii. the brackets including parallel tracks adjacent said sides,

iii. a pair of riders each slidable on track,

iv. a pair of shoes,

v. means mounting saidshoes for pivotal movement about a commonhorizontal axis with respect to the window opening,

vi. each shoe having troughs the mouths of which face each other acrossthe window opening and are in registry,

vii. a pair of links each associated with a different rider andaffiliated shoe,

viii. each link being pivotally connected at one end to the distal endof the affiliated show and at the other end to the affiliated rider,

ix. said riders being movable between upper and lower positionswherebywith the riders in upper position the shoes'are vertical and with theriders in lower position the shoes are horizontal,

C. said frame having parallel side members slidable in the troughs,

D. means limiting outward movement of the frame with respect to theshoes when the shoes are in horizontal position and permitting unlimitedinward sliding'movement of the frame with respect to the shoes inhorizontal position whereby the frame is dismountable from the framemounting means inwardly of the building so as to permit the frame to beloaded inside the building either when the frame is mounted on the framemounting means or when the frame is separate from the frame mountingmeans and yet to permit the frame, after being loaded, to be slid to aposition external to the building, and

E. pin and socket means on the riders and tracks to fix the riders intheir lower positions on the tracks.

a different 2. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein pin andsocket means is included to releasably lock the frame mounting means invertical storage position of the frame.

3. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein pin and socket meansis'included to releasably lock the frame in the frame mounting meanswhen the frame is in horizontal operative position at a location outsidethe building.

4. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein pin and socket meansis included to releasably lock the frame in the frame mounting meanswhen the frame is in horizontal operative position at a location insidethe building.

5. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim ll wherein pin and socket meansis included to releasalby lock the frame in the frame mounting meanswhen the frame is in vertical storage position.

6. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim ll wherein the frame iscomposed, in addition to the parallel side members, of end bars andconnecting corner pieces, each comer piece disengageably engaging oneend bar and one side member.

7. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 6 wherein means is provided tohold clothes lines taut between the ,end bars so as to firmly secure theside members to the corner pieces.

8. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 6 wherein the end bars carryhooks to which the clothes lines are attached and wherein at least oneof the hooks includes a screw which extends through the associated endbar and is secured to the adjacent corner piece whereby to attach thecorner piece to the end bar.

9. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shoes arepivotally mounted on the tracks by screws and wing nuts.

10. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shoes arepivotally mounted on the tracks by screws and wing nuts.

1 l. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ends of thelinks are pivotally connected to the ends of the shoes byscrews and wingnuts.

12. In combination, a 'building having a wall with a window openingtherein, a window in said window opening, means mounting said window formovement between open and closed positions, and a clothes dryercomprising:

A. an article supporting frame,

B. means rigidly attached to the window opening to mount said frame onsaid wall at said window opening for shiftable movement between ahorizontal operative position in which the frame is aligned with a spacein the window opening provided when the window is open, and a verticalstorage position against a surface of a wall of a building, saidmounting means including i. a pair of brackets securable permanently andrigidly to the sides of the window opening,

ii. the brackets including parallel tracks adjacent said sides,

iii. a pair of riders each slidable on a different track,

iv. a pair of shoes,

v. means mounting said shoes for pivotal movement about a commonhorizontal axis with respect to the window opening,

vi. each shoe having troughs the mouths of which face each other acrossthe window opening and are in registry,

vii. a pair of links each associated with a different rider andaffiliated shoe,

viii. each link being pivotally connected at one end to the distal endof the affiliated shoe and at the other end to the affiliated rider,

ix. said riders being movable between upper and lower positions wherebywith the riders in upper position the shoes are vertical and with theriders in lower position the shoes are horizontal,

C. said frame having parallel side members slidable in the troughs,

D. means limiting outward movement of the frame with respect to theshoes when the shoes are in horizontal position and permitting unlimitedinward sliding movement of the frame with respect to the fix the ridersin their lower positions on the tracks.

1. A clothes dryer for use in conjunction with a wall of a buildinghaving a window opening with a window therein which wiNdow can be movedbetween open and closed positions, said clothes dryer comprising: A. anarticle supporting frame, B. means rigidly attached to the windowopening to mount said frame on said wall at said window opening forshiftable movement between a horizontal operative position in which theframe is aligned with a space in the window opening provided when thewindow is open, and a vertical storage position against a surface of awall of a building, said mounting means including i. a pair of bracketssecurable permanently and rigidly to the sides of the window opening,ii. the brackets including parallel tracks adjacent said sides, iii. apair of riders each slidable on a different track, iv. a pair of shoes,v. means mounting said shoes for pivotal movement about a commonhorizontal axis with respect to the window opening, vi. each shoe havingtroughs the mouths of which face each other across the window openingand are in registry, vii. a pair of links each associated with adifferent rider and affiliated shoe, viii. each link being pivotallyconnected at one end to the distal end of the affiliated show and at theother end to the affiliated rider, ix. said riders being movable betweenupper and lower positions whereby with the riders in upper position theshoes are vertical and with the riders in lower position the shoes arehorizontal, C. said frame having parallel side members slidable in thetroughs, D. means limiting outward movement of the frame with respect tothe shoes when the shoes are in horizontal position and permittingunlimited inward sliding movement of the frame with respect to the shoesin horizontal position whereby the frame is dismountable from the framemounting means inwardly of the building so as to permit the frame to beloaded inside the building either when the frame is mounted on the framemounting means or when the frame is separate from the frame mountingmeans and yet to permit the frame, after being loaded, to be slid to aposition external to the building, and E. pin and socket means on theriders and tracks to fix the riders in their lower positions on thetracks.
 2. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein pin andsocket means is included to releasably lock the frame mounting means invertical storage position of the frame.
 3. A clothes dryer as set forthin claim 1 wherein pin and socket means is included to releasably lockthe frame in the frame mounting means when the frame is in horizontaloperative position at a location outside the building.
 4. A clothesdryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein pin and socket means is includedto releasably lock the frame in the frame mounting means when the frameis in horizontal operative position at a location inside the building.5. A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein pin and socket meansis included to releasalby lock the frame in the frame mounting meanswhen the frame is in vertical storage position.
 6. A clothes dryer asset forth in claim 1 wherein the frame is composed, in addition to theparallel side members, of end bars and connecting corner pieces, eachcorner piece disengageably engaging one end bar and one side member. 7.A clothes dryer as set forth in claim 6 wherein means is provided tohold clothes lines taut between the end bars so as to firmly secure theside members to the corner pieces.
 8. A clothes dryer as set forth inclaim 6 wherein the end bars carry hooks to which the clothes lines areattached and wherein at least one of the hooks includes a screw whichextends through the associated end bar and is secured to the adjacentcorner piece whereby to attach the corner piece to the end bar.
 9. Aclothes dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shoes are pivotallymounted on the tracks by screws and wing nuts.
 10. A clothes dryer asset forth in claim 1 wherein the shoes are pivotally mounted on thetracks by screws and wing nuts.
 11. A clotHes dryer as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the ends of the links are pivotally connected to theends of the shoes by screws and wing nuts.
 12. In combination, abuilding having a wall with a window opening therein, a window in saidwindow opening, means mounting said window for movement between open andclosed positions, and a clothes dryer comprising: A. an articlesupporting frame, B. means rigidly attached to the window opening tomount said frame on said wall at said window opening for shiftablemovement between a horizontal operative position in which the frame isaligned with a space in the window opening provided when the window isopen, and a vertical storage position against a surface of a wall of abuilding, said mounting means including i. a pair of brackets securablepermanently and rigidly to the sides of the window opening, ii. thebrackets including parallel tracks adjacent said sides, iii. a pair ofriders each slidable on a different track, iv. a pair of shoes, v. meansmounting said shoes for pivotal movement about a common horizontal axiswith respect to the window opening, vi. each shoe having troughs themouths of which face each other across the window opening and are inregistry, vii. a pair of links each associated with a different riderand affiliated shoe, viii. each link being pivotally connected at oneend to the distal end of the affiliated shoe and at the other end to theaffiliated rider, ix. said riders being movable between upper and lowerpositions whereby with the riders in upper position the shoes arevertical and with the riders in lower position the shoes are horizontal,C. said frame having parallel side members slidable in the troughs, D.means limiting outward movement of the frame with respect to the shoeswhen the shoes are in horizontal position and permitting unlimitedinward sliding movement of the frame with respect to the shoes inhorizontal position whereby the frame is dismountable from the framemounting means inwardly of the building so as to permit the frame to beloaded inside the building either when the frame is mounted on the framemounting means or when the frame is separate from the frame mountingmeans and yet to permit the frame, after being loaded, to be slid to aposition external to the building, and E. pin and socket means on theriders and tracks to fix the riders in their lower positions on thetracks.